Page 19 of Going, Going, Gone
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With his headin his hands and his elbows on the table in his mother’s kitchen, Dylan moaned. “I screwed up, Mom. I seriously screwed up and have no idea how to fix it.”
Kaye McBride set a glass of water in front of her son before taking the seat across from him. She’d called to talk to him not long after he’d walked out on Nessa, and, after hearing his tone of voice, had insisted he come to her house. He’d known a mile down the road from Nessa’s place, he’d fucked up, big time. Why he’d thrown those accusations in her face, he’d never know, but what was done was done. He couldn’t undo it, so he’d have to find a way to repair the damage.
“Then give me the bigger story and let me see what sage advice I can dole out.”
He chuckled wryly. His mother had never steered him wrong with her words of wisdom, and it was doubtful she’d start now. He felt like such an ass, but the words poured forth. “I accused her of sleeping with me just in case she needed more time to make her case. So she could try to convince me to push back the sale date again if she couldn’t get the proof in time.”
“Oh, you didn’t.” When he rolled his eyes and frowned, she tsked at him. “You did.” Sighing loudly, his mother stood and stepped into the dining room. Moments later, she was back, placing a shot of whiskey in front of him. When he raised his brow at her, she grinned. “You’ll need it for the courage to fix what you so eloquently said you ‘screwed up.’”
“It’s 10:00 a.m.”
“It’s five o’clock somewhere, as the saying goes.” He knew better than to argue with her and downed the alcohol, savoring the punishing burn. “Now, why would you accuse Nessa of that? From what I’ve been able to tell, sex is not something she would use to her advantage.”
“It’s not.” He knew that for certain. “And I have no idea why I did it. Things had been great. Then she got a phone call that the DNA didn’t come through. She asked if there was any way I could get the sale delayed again, and I just ... just ...”
“Acted like a jerk?”
“Yeah, that.” He ran a hand through his short hair. “Damn, mom. What do I do? I’ve never felt like this with a woman before.”
She tilted her head to the side, her intelligent eyes studying his face. “Like what?”
“Like ... like I want to be with her all the time. Like I want to spend the rest of my life with her. That if things didn’t work out between us, my heart will be ripped out of my chest.”
“And that scares the living daylights out of you.”
It’d been a statement, not a question, but he still answered it. “Yeah ... yeah, it does.”
“Well, that’s why you acted like a jerk.”
His eyes narrowed at her. “Huh?”
Reaching across the table, she placed her hand on top of his. “Honey, everything you’re feeling is normal. You think you found the love of your life, but you’re scared she might not feel the same way about you. So, in that sometimes-dense, male noggin of yours, it’s better to push Nessa away before you lose your heart to her, just in case she decides to walk away, stomping on it on her way out the door.”
Dylan bit his bottom lip and let her wise words flow through him. He’d never been in love before. Yes, he knew what it was like to love and to have that love returned in spades—his family was living proof—but to beinlove was something he’d never experienced ... until now. “Was it really love at first sight for you and Dad?”
The corners of her mouth ticked upward, and her eyes twinkled. “For him, yes. That afternoon we met? It was right after the Memorial Day parade. Your dad walked up to me and introduced himself. We spent the rest of the day with a combined group of friends at the carnival. Before we said goodnight, Gavin said he was going to marry me someday. I thought he was nuts ... cute, but nuts. It took me two dates to realize what he’d known right away. Sometimes that lightning bolt moment hits right away ... sometimes the storm is a little slower rolling in. But, either way, if it’s right, the sky will light up like the Fourth of July.”
A smile spread across his face. “You’re a helluva woman, you know that, right?”
“Your dad told me that all the time.”
“As he should’ve. So ... how do I fix this mess I’m in?” he asked, ready to grovel at Nessa’s feet if necessary.
She patted his hand and stood. “I’ve got an idea. It was the reason I’d called you in the first place.”
